(Reuters) - Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association in relation to comments made on social media.
The 21-year-old posted a series of Tweets in 2013 and 2014, some with racial references and another in which he criticised women's football.
Choudhury apologised this week and Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said his player was genuinely remorseful.
"They do not represent my true beliefs," England Under-21 international Choudhury said in a statement.
"I've learned a lot as a person in my early years as a professional - certainly enough to know that some of the thoughtless comments I have made in the past are both hurtful and offensive.
"I'm deeply sorry to anyone I have offended - both at the time and since they've been recirculated."
The FA said the comments constituted an "aggravated breach" as they included reference to ethnic origin and/or race and/or sexual orientation.
Choudhury has made 10 appearances for Leicester this season and started for the first time under Rodgers in their 3-0 Premier League victory over Arsenal last weekend.
He has until May 13 to respond to the charge.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)